Friday, August 31, 2012

I wanted to take some pictures of Graham -- 1 year pictures and I had a vision of some cake smashing (thank you pinterest). The weather forecast last weekend was less than stellar with scattered thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday - 80% chance. Boo.

But Saturday night I decided to make the cake and figured I'd take a chance that there would be a non raining period on Sunday and we could run out and take some pictures. The field is just down the street from our house. Another perk to living in Oklahoma....lots of wide open spaces.

Well, Sunday afternoon the clouds parted and the sun starting shining so we made a run for it.

And these pictures are all...oh, we're so happy frolicking in a field on a beautiful afternoon. NOT. Sawyer was sleeping in the (running, locked) car (maybe this was actually a blessing. ha.). We popped 2 balloons before I even snapped the first picture. The rain didn't cool things off and instead it was hot and sticky. And if I'm being totally honest, Keith and I were being a little snappy with each other because I was being a bossy mamarrazi and he wasn't getting of my "vision". But we took some deep breaths, mumbled some apologies and regained our composure and walked away with some really cute pictures. We were out there maybe 20 minutes.

And did you know there is a helium shortage? As in can't get helium filled balloons anywhere. I tried 4 places. I could buy mylar balloons from them but they wouldn't fill regular latex ones. So, I started out with 5 balloons on sticks (which actually worked out nicely because it was so windy) but only 3 are photographed...see above. And ended up with only 1 when it was all said and done.

Anyway...enjoy lots and lots of pictures of sweet, little Graham.

Eating cake is exhausting....ha.﻿

This is right after he shoved the whole cake to the ground.﻿

We are heading home as this is being posted. We are looking forward to some time away and being with family. We have a big birthday party planned for Graham. We get back next Wednesday and I'm sure there will be lots to share then!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

It was a big weekend around here. Sawyer got a big boy bed. He was so funny. We've been asking him for a while if he wanted a big boy bed and he would tell us no, that he already had a bed. He's a hilarious little guy. I'm pretty sure I would have been perfectly fine with him sleeping in a crib forever but Keith really thought it was time for a big boy bed. So, we did just that on Saturday.

Sawyer was excited to help and thought it was really fun. He loved being able to climb in himself and then spent the next hour jumping out. Climbing in and jumping out. Over and over and over again.

We also decided it would be a good time to take the paci away. We told him that paci's aren't allowed in big boy beds. And he never really said anything about it. We've slowly been weaning off of it the past couple of months. Leaving it in his crib, napping without it, etc. And lately he would usually spit it out after he fell asleep. So we were hopeful he would do okay.

I'm happy to report that the last 3 nights have been awesome. I'm so proud of him. He's gone right to bed. Only asked for his paci once (Sunday morning after he got up and we came downstairs he asked where it was and I told him I didn't have it and big boys didn't need paci's. And then he told me to go to the store to buy him some more. Ha!). And he hasn't gotten up any. Even in the mornings when he wakes up he just sits there and looks at his books (we read him books before bed and he likes to keep 1 or 2 in there with him). I know it's only been 3 nights but I don't think we'll have any trouble.

Although I wasn't entirely prepared for all of this to happen last weekend and it does tug at my heartstrings a little, the timing felt right. I'm so happy we didn't push any of this on him and followed his lead. Now, I'm praying our trip home doesn't set us back any.

Last pic in front of his baby bed....

New big boy bed....

Two other somebodies were really interested in his big boy bed too.

And in other news, we made pudding pops. I don't have any pictures of us enjoying them because I was trying to keep 2 boys from turning everything in our house purple!

I spy a helper with a skinned up knee and a Mickey band aid. He loves to sit on the counter and help.

Friday, August 24, 2012

You are 12 months...you've been with us an entire year. How is that possible?! I'm really having a hard time wrapping my head around that. But it's been the best year and I can hardly remember our little family without you.

You are such a sweet little guy. Laid back and wild all at the same time. You are into everything and you are a climber. You always want whatever your big brother is playing with....much to his dismay! And you guys can be so sweet one minute and fighting the next. Who knew that would start so early?! But you guys love each other, that's for sure.

You have 6 teeth, 4 on top and 2 on bottom. You are pretty much done with baby food...and eating mostly everything we eat. You have a healthy appetite and will eat just about anything. You haven't had a bottle in 2 days and don't seem to miss it. You use a sippy cup of whole milk and breastmilk mixed with your meals. Trying to use up the last of the frozen breastmilk so soon your sippy will just be whole milk. You eat 3 meals a day and a snack. I'm still nursing you in the morning and at night. I don't think either one of us are ready to give that up. I know I'm not! Although, I did stop pumping during the day this week since you can drink whole milk during the day. Hoping my supply keeps up for morning and night nursing sessions.

You just moved up to size 4 diapers and are wearing mostly 12 months clothes but some 18 months too. You wear a size 3 shoe.

You are a great sleeper. Usually going to bed between 7:30-8:00 depending on your naps and you wake up around 7am. You are still taking 2 naps a day﻿, mid-morning and afternoon. You usually take a longer morning nap and short afternoon nap.

You are pulling up on everything and cruising around. You'll let go and stand for a couple of seconds but then you sit down. You have mastered crawling and you are fast. You knees are proof as you've practically worn calluses on them from all the crawling you do!

We had your 12 month check up and below are your stats:

Weight - 21 lbs. 10 oz - 58%

Height - 30 inches - 61%

Head circumference - 18 inches - 51%

I also suspected your ears may have been bothering you because you were fussier than normal and tugging at one. Sure enough...your third ear infection. Praise the Lord for antibiotics.

You have the cutest little giggle. And I'm obsessed with your pretty dark hair and big blue eyes. You are funny, sweet guy and I'm so glad you are ours!

I love you more than you'll ever know!

Mommy

Here are some pictures of you at 12 months:

Here are some pictures from your birthday.

We spent the entire day together and it was some much needed mommy and Graham time!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I had a short out of town meeting this week, Monday and Tuesday. I actually got in around 8:30 last night. I made it home just in time to put Saw to bed. Graham was already asleep but I couldn't resist sneaking in his room and scooping him up. He sleepily opened his eyes and gave me a little grin, then I nursed him and he drifted back to sleep. I only held him for maybe 10-15 minutes but my mama heart needed it. As I was holding him, I thanked God for him, prayed for him, thought about him turning 1 today and about the past year. I had to hold him on the eve of his birthday...one last moment with him before he is officially 1. Still so little and new but no longer a (officially) baby.

What a blessing he is to us, a perfect addition to our family and the perfect 2nd son. The past year has held so much joy but there were moments of growing pains, learning to mother two boys and create a balancing act. And there are still moments when I wish I had more hands, but overall the past year has held a lot of love. Love for Graham and every single thing that makes him uniquely him, additional love for Sawyer as I watched him become a big brother, more love for Keith as we became more seasoned as a couple and as parents (and more love for him for tolerating all the matching outfits), and even more love for Cooper as he tolerates another set of hands grabbing at him...and for licking more messes off the floor.

Birthdays are such a big deal. It's his birth day! Our entire lives were changed by this 1 day.

Friday, August 17, 2012

We're still working on checking things off of our summer list. Slowly but surely. We only have a few things left...which is good since summer is winding down. And I am sooo ready for fall. Cooler temps, boots and football!

We ventured out last weekend to the park to play and to feed the ducks. These ducks were obviously used to people feeding them and they were very aggressive. So aggressive that Sawyer was glued to my hip the entire time. But Graham loved it -- he just cackled every time Keith would throw them some bread.

The playset was more Sawyer's speed...especially the slides.﻿

Washing Sawyer's beloved firetruck was also on the Summer List and we did that after church.﻿

And I also gave little brother a trim.﻿

Creeping down the wall towards me. And to also pull out the plug covers. Obviously they are very child proof.﻿

And just because I don't share enough pictures of Cooper. We recently lost one of our family dogs (my Mom's maltese Annie that we've had for the past 10 years) and it's been really hard. We are dog lovers and these babies are part of our family. I've been trying to intentionally spend a few extra minutes loving on this guy. He puts up with two little boys...but he is usually rewarded at meal times because those little boys are messy!﻿

Thankful the weekend is here...and hoping to check a few more things off the list.